'Telling people what they can and can't wear, if they're just walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do,' he told the Sunday Telegraph.

'We're a tolerant and mutually respectful society.'

(...)

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today also spoke out against the prospect of a ban.

'I take a strong view on this, actually, that I don't, living in this country, as a woman, want to be told what I can and can't wear,' she said.

'That's something which both myself and (community cohesion minister Baroness) Sayeeda Warsi have argued very strongly, that one of the things we pride ourselves on in this country is being free - and being free to choose what you wear is a part of that.

'So actually banning the burka is absolutely contrary, I think, to what this country is all about.'